Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a Fischer Chameleon that was until recently was quite healthy. I noticed this morning though that he kept one of his eyes shut all the time and throughout the day he was rubbing the skin over his eye against branches and vines trying to pull it open. I can see his eye still moving under the skin. He just can seem to pull open his eye lid. I'm going to take him to a vet as soon as possible. Do you think I should try to press a warm wet cloth against it or anything to see if he can open it himself?

What is the humidity level in his cage? Is there any sticky discharge? How long have you had him? The only thing I would try before having a vet check it with a scope is to flush the eye with sterile saline (contact lens rinse solution that will sting less than plain water) that might loosen the lid and help him clean it. Give him lukewarm showers. Put a potted plant in the shower, run the water just barely warm and bounce the spray off the wall so it doesn't hit the cham directly. Leave a part of the plant out of the spray. At first chams can get spooked by showering, but most decide they like the high humidity and unlimited "rain". But, fischeri can be very quick and nervous so he may not handle this well or escape the shower.

The most common reason for chams to close an eye is dehydration. It's winter and unless you live somewhere warm and humid chams kept in a heated house can dehydrate more quickly when the air is dried out by heating. Hope he's OK!

I second the saline/shower regiment. Also put something soft under the plant in the shower like some towels or even better some bubble wrap – just in case the cham does get spooked and decides to do a “bomb drop” onto the hard tub floor.

-roo

hey, i just read these posts. Would you suggest applying the saline with a qtip or something like that?